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Elderly Abuse: Recognizing, Reporting, and Getting Help

Elderly Abuse: Recognizing, Reporting, and
Getting Help

Too
often, the topic of elder abuse is ignored. Locally, our organization receives
requests for assistance at least once a month. Many elderly adults are abused in
their own homes, in relatives’ homes, and even in facilities responsible for
their care. If you suspect an elderly person is at risk from a neglectful or
overwhelmed caregiver, or being preyed upon financially, it’s important to
speak up. Learn about the warning signs of elder abuse, what the risk factors
are, and how you can prevent and report the problem.

As elders become more physically frail, they’re less able to stand up to
bullying and or fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or
think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for deceitful people to take
advantage of them.

Each year hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected, and
exploited. Many victims are people who are older, frail, and vulnerable and
cannot help themselves and depend on others to meet most basic needs. Abusers
of older adults are both women and men, and may be family members, friends, or
“trusted others.” In the U.S. alone, more than half a million reports of abuse against
elderly Americans reach authorities every year, and millions more cases go
unreported.

In general, elder abuse is a term referring to any
knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that
causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Legislatures in
all 50 states have some form of elder abuse prevention laws.

Physical Abuse—use of force against an elderly person that result in
physical pain, injury, or impairment. Such abuse includes not only physical
assaults such as hitting or shoving but the inappropriate use of drugs,
restraints, or confinement.

Sexual Abuse—non-consensual
sexual contact of any kind.

Neglect—the
failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or
protection for a vulnerable elder.

·
Exploitation—the
illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a
senior for someone else's benefit.

Emotional Abuse— Verbal forms of
emotional elder abuse include

·Intimidation through
yelling or threats

·Humiliation and
ridicule

·Habitual blaming or
scapegoating

Nonverbal psychological elder abuse takes the form of:

·Ignoring the elderly
person

·Isolating an elder
from friends or activities

·Terrorizing or
menacing the elderly person

·Abandonment—desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed
the responsibility for care or custody of that person.

·Self-neglect—characterized as the failure of a person to perform
essential, self-care tasks and
that such failure threatens his/her own health or safety.

Healthcare
fraud and abuse

·Not providing
healthcare, but charging for it

·Overcharging or
double-billing for medical care or services

·Getting kickbacks for
referrals to other providers or for prescribing certain drugs

·Overmedicating or
under-medicating

While
one sign does not necessarily indicate abuse, some signs that there could be a
problem are:

· Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones,
abrasions, and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect, or
mistreatment.

· Behavior such as belittling, threats
and other uses of power and control.

· Strained or tense relationships,
frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person.

Some
signs may emerge as symptoms of dementia or signs of the person’s frailty - or
caregivers may explain them to you that way. Some of the signs and symptoms of
elder abuse do overlap with symptoms of mental deterioration, but that doesn’t
mean you should dismiss them on the caregiver’s say-so. Most importantly, be
alert. The suffering is often in silence. If you notice changes in a senior’s
personality or behavior, you should start to question what is going on.

Older
adults can take these steps to prevent abuse:

·Be socially active
and avoid spending too much time alone. Being cut off from other people can put
you at a higher risk of abuse. Keep in touch with family and friends.

·If you are not happy
with the care you are getting in your home, speak up. You have a right to
change. This applies to all caregivers — even family.

·If you live in a
long-term care facility and are not happy with your care, speak up. If you do
not have family members who can help, contact your state's Long-Term Care
Ombudsman.(in Nevada:http://www.nvaging.net/ltc.htm

·Plan for your own
financial future with a trusted person or persons. Make sure that your finances
are in order. It's also important to tell family, caregivers, and doctors your
health care wishes.

If an older person is in immediate
danger,911 service should be contacted as soon as possible.
If you have been the victim of abuse, exploitation, or neglect, you are not
alone. Many people care and can help. Please tell your doctor, a friend, or a
family member you trust, or call the Eldercare Locator help line immediately.
You can reach the Eldercare Locator by telephone at 1-800-677-1116. Specially
trained operators will refer you to a local agency that can help. The Eldercare
Locator is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Any person may report an
incident of abuse if they have reasonable cause to believe that an elderly
person has been abused, neglected, exploited, or isolated. All information
received as a result of a report is maintained as confidential.

Mandatory reportersmustmake the report immediately after the
event, but no later than 24 hours after there is reason to believe that an
elderly person has been abused, neglected, exploited, or isolated.

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